Seattle Seahawks Could Target Saquon Barkley After Losing Kenneth Walker III

Kenneth Walker III stands on the field during a Kansas City Chiefs game.© X/@ESPNInsights

The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2026 season with the expectation of winning another Super Bowl, but their 2026 results exposed a problem they had not managed to solve after Kenneth Walker III left in free agency. Injuries have thinned their running back room, and the offense has struggled to find a reliable option on the ground. With the NFL trade deadline coming on November 10, Seattle could look toward Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley for help. The proposed move could give the Seahawks a proven runner, though his injury and contract present major concerns.

How the Seahawks could replace Kenneth Walker III

Seattle's rushing attack has struggled to provide the balance a contender needs. Rookie Jadarian Price landed on injured reserve, while Zach Charbonnet also remained unavailable. That left Emanuel Wilson and George Holani carrying responsibilities that the Seahawks had expected other backs to handle.

CBS Sports' Carter Bahns included Barkley in his list of potential trades that could reshape the NFL before the deadline. He pointed to Seattle's struggles on the ground and its ambitions as a contender as reasons to consider the deal.

“Seattle is in as much of a win-now mode as any team in the league and thus is in a position to give up premium draft capital for a player who can help it return to the Super Bowl,” Bahns wrote.

Heavy Sports also suggested a trade that would send Barkley to Seattle in exchange for a third‑round draft pick. The Seahawks could use a back of Barkley's caliber to ease pressure on quarterback Sam Darnold, who threw four interceptions in the team's two games.

Barkley's contract, which runs through 2028, would offer Seattle more than a short-term fix. However, acquiring him would require a significant financial commitment and potentially cost the team valuable draft capital.

Saquon Barkley's injury and contract complicate a potential trade

Philadelphia's difficult season has added weight to the trade discussion. The Eagles entered their Week 7 matchup on a three-game losing streak, while quarterback Jalen Hurts landed on injured reserve because of a blood clot in one of his calves. 

That situation has raised questions about whether Philadelphia should consider moving veteran players before the deadline.

Barkley has recorded 182 rushing yards and has yet to find the end zone in four games this year due to a hamstring injury. He hasn't quite lived up to his previous levels in his most recent game, but in one of his last seasons he recorded more than 2,000 yards in 2024, and 1140 yards last year could give the Seahawks reason to take a chance.

“The biggest snag to a potential Barkley trade for Philadelphia is the cap hit the team would get. If the Eagles trade Barkley, they will accept a $35 million dead cap hit,” Heavy reported.